Unlicensed Mobile Access: Leading Technological Alternative in the Fixed Mobile Convergence Stable

Convergence of fixed and mobile offers advantages for both consumers and service providers and is gaining momentum in the marketplace as operators are realizing the market opportunities for creating new revenue-generating services. As communication services are evolving, users are increasingly faced with a confusion of devices, subscriptions and numbers. Consumers are growing to expect ubiquitous, constant connectivity and access to all manner of information applications. Service providers, large and small, must simultaneously find ways to offset the declines in traditional revenue sources while continuing to drive top-line growth. The race within the telecommunications industry to achieve convergence is likely the catalyst for Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) fast-track development. The UMA standard brings wireless cellular telephony and 802.11 wireless networking together for seamless voice, data and multimedia services using one dual-mode handset (DMH). This article addresses the future path of telecommunication networks to a fixed-mobile convergence environment that meets the requirements of both consumers and providers. The article will address elements of UMA including access, benefits and architecture, along with competitive and technological issues involved with this prominent concept to fixed mobile-convergence.